The Effects of Excess Sodium on Your Health and Appearance

3,400 milligrams is the amount of sodium that the average American consumes.

1,500 milligrams or less is the amount recommended by the AHA for ideal heart health.

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE is the leading risk factor for death in WOMEN in the United States, contributing to nearly 200,000 female deaths each year. (That's more than five times the 42,000 annual deaths from breast cancer.)

77.9 million American ADULTS have high blood pressure.

KIDS who have a high-sodium diet are twice as likely to develop high blood pressure as kids who have low-sodium diets.